ZDC controller experienced loss of separation between 2 holding aircraft.

Attributes
ACN	578392
Time
Date	200303
Day	Sun
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	navaid : diw.ndb
State Reference	NC
Altitude	msl single value : 37000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other ndb
Flight Phase	cruise : holding cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zdc.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	cruise : holding cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : radar
Qualification	controller : developmental
Experience	controller non radar : 7 controller radar : 9 controller time certified in position2 : 18 flight time total : 80
ASRS Report	578392
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne less severe inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure non adherence : required legal separation
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : insufficient time
Consequence	faa : investigated
Miss Distance	horizontal : 7200 vertical : 100
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance FAA Weather
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Error

Narrative:

Sector is a high altitude sector that was saturated. Several holding patterns. 2 aircraft holding at 2 fixes 24 mi apart in different directions. Winds were strong from the west/southwest. Using user requested evaluation tool holding forms. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following information: reporter called to clarify the user requested evaluation tool form term used. The reporter indicated that the subject form was used to replace the old 'strip(south)' now that automated strips (uret) were in use. These subject forms are used to write needed information, especially during holding operations. The problem, as relayed by the reporter, is that this new automation effort sometimes increased workload rather than reduced it, as anticipated. The reporter did say that overall, the user requested evaluation tool equipment was a good advancement and well received by the controllers.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ZDC CTLR EXPERIENCED LOSS OF SEPARATION BTWN 2 HOLDING ACFT.

Narrative: SECTOR IS A HIGH ALT SECTOR THAT WAS SATURATED. SEVERAL HOLDING PATTERNS. 2 ACFT HOLDING AT 2 FIXES 24 MI APART IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WINDS WERE STRONG FROM THE W/SW. USING USER REQUESTED EVALUATION TOOL HOLDING FORMS. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR CALLED TO CLARIFY THE USER REQUESTED EVALUATION TOOL FORM TERM USED. THE RPTR INDICATED THAT THE SUBJECT FORM WAS USED TO REPLACE THE OLD 'STRIP(S)' NOW THAT AUTOMATED STRIPS (URET) WERE IN USE. THESE SUBJECT FORMS ARE USED TO WRITE NEEDED INFO, ESPECIALLY DURING HOLDING OPS. THE PROB, AS RELAYED BY THE RPTR, IS THAT THIS NEW AUTOMATION EFFORT SOMETIMES INCREASED WORKLOAD RATHER THAN REDUCED IT, AS ANTICIPATED. THE RPTR DID SAY THAT OVERALL, THE USER REQUESTED EVALUATION TOOL EQUIP WAS A GOOD ADVANCEMENT AND WELL RECEIVED BY THE CTLRS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.